Upstate Imports Auto Repair

Words by Bob Sblendorio and photos by Dalton Dobson:    Passion — is when you work on cars all day long, all week for your business — and to relax, you work on your personal cars.  Oh yeah, when you really want to relax, you build racing go-karts with your sons.  That’s a passion!  Meet […]

​A​n Unforgettable Story About a Forgotten Motorcycle

For most, the Indian Arrow is a forgotten motorcycle due to modern bikes plethora of power, features, and technology. But where did it all start? What made motorcycles so popular? I found out by riding John Brojakowski’s 1949 Indian Arrow among the now century old buildings of Little Falls. The year was 1949. It had

His & Her – Austin-Healey 3000 MK I Roadsters

There are many his & her items on the market today, wedding bands top the list.  Other than tying the knot there are sweat shirts, mugs watches and even vanity sinks.  Here’s a Baldwinsville couple with his & her Austin-Healey 3000 MK I roadsters. Pete Sanborn owns this two tone “Healey Blue-Old English White” early

The Beast Under the Hood

Parked at the peak of the driveway at Borys Buniak Fayetteville home is a 1971 Jaguar E-Type (also known as an XKE). It is the kind of car that would make any Englishman smile, but then spit out their tea and crush their biscuits in anger when he starts it. The E-Type is a British

2014 Tesla Model S 85

Words Bob Sblendorio, photos Thomas Sblendorio:     After a long time of resisting anything electric, especially an all-electric, there are now cracks in my reciprocating only mind.  Meet Dave Griffin, owner of a 2014 Tesla Model S and a resident expert in all things Tesla. Henry Ford (and others) experimented with producing electric cars

Local Legend – RAY KAPFER 1943-1996

I’ve always said that if you give two guys a couple of grocery carts they will figure out a way to race each other, and after the race is over, they will go in search of someone to help them make it “Go Faster”! That’s what this story is about, one of Rome, New York’s

Devin Wojcik’s Road To Indy

Sixteen year old high school junior Devin Wojcik is working hard to fulfill his dreams as an open wheel race car driver. Five years ago Devin started his career in go-karts, and now is competing in the USF-2000 championship series for ArmsUp Motorsports. Wojcik is paving his way toward the Verizon IndyCar Series. We were

Corvettes of New York State Exhibit

Words Bob Sblendorio, photos Thomas Sblendorio:     The cover features a very special 1964 Corvette that was recently donated to The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum.  That car was on display at the 1964 World’s Fair in NYC and is now back in New York…that’s huge!  It is fuel injected and has 15 coats of

Automotive Technology and Service Expo

In its 26th year, the Automotive Technology and Service Expo (ATSE) is the premier show in CNY for the automotive and collision industries.  At the show, there was some of the latest equipment on display by the 60+ exhibitors.  Also provided was training and seminars on a wide range of automotive related topics.  New for

The Man, The Legend – Ray Hedger

Words Bob Sblendorio, photos Thomas Sblendorio: Nike’s famous slogan is “Just Do It.”  Meet Ray Hedger, a master at fabricating, and whose work many people feel is legendary.  When I asked about the skills to perform the highly specialized work as a fabricator, I was told, “I just started doing it.”  In other words…the skills are

Jeff Gordon Street Legal Nascar Build

The phrase “just do and ask for forgiveness later” is how Jeff Lyman described the building of his street legal Jeff Gordon NASCAR car…and it worked!  So what exactly does that mean?  Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon, upon finding out about the completed car, had to legally agree to the finished car, with certain terms

Behind the Scenes At Counting Cars

“Danny [Koker] fights tooth and nail to keep it real because car people know when you are faking it.  We do everything we can to keep it real, the stories are real, the cars are real, and it’s the reason it takes so long to do the episodes,” explains Kevin Mack from the popular TV

1930 Packard Model 745 Roadster

Words by Bob Sblendorio, Photography by Thomas Sblendorio A rare barn find…the dream of every car enthusiast!   That dream came true for Jim Staley several years back when he found a 1930 Packard Roadster that was “a total disaster.”  It was in the bottom of a barn south of Syracuse and it was “a total

2016 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Review

Although this 2016 Dodge Challenger Hellcat lacks any large badging or space age looking aero packages to indicate its pedigree, the second you open the door it’s clear that it’s something special. The beautiful leather seats tightly grip your body while the car’s heated steering wheel ensures your hands won’t be too cold to handle

Street Scene Car Show

Street Scene is on Saturday, August 19th! This event has grown tremendously each year and this year will likely be no exception.  What started out in the summer of 2013, with about 200 cars, has grown to a premier event with well in excess of 1,000 cars from all over the Northeast.  It is at

Central New York Porsche Club

This is a milestone year for the “Central New York Porsche Club of America.”  They will be celebrating their 60th year as part of a larger automotive organization that spans all of the United States and Canada.  That being said, they are the third oldest Porsche club in this organization. It all began late in

2017 Ford Focus RS

When most people think of a Ford Focus they think of a small sensible hatchback car that gets good fuel economy. They know that it can easily haul four adults or a multitude of large objects with the rear seats folded down. In most hatchbacks, this level of practicality usually exists at the expense of

1963 International Scout Model 80

Owner: Butch Dreher This Rat Rod started its life off as a shop truck for Butch’s father in-law’s boat shop.  After his passing the truck fell into disrepair and was bound for the scrap yard!  That’s when Butch came into the picture and brought what was left of the Scout home and promptly chopped 12 inches

CNY Porsche Club Detailing Clinic

On May 6, 2017, Detail Johnny hosted the Central New York Porsche Club of America for a detailing seminar. We discussed wet sanding, polishing, clay bar treatment, and how to perform a 3-step paint correction. The event had about 40 people and was hands-on format with a lot of good questions and feedback. Detail Johnny

Stewart Friesen

Stewart Friesen –– an accomplished dirt track racer –– with 11 Big-Block Modified Championships has moved up to a full-time ride with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2017.  Even with that added commitment, he is still racing dirt track venues throughout the Northeast as well…how is that possible? “It’s pretty crazy, the truck

More Than Just A Ride

Dan Leone first caught the Honda bug in 1997 when his close friend and fellow Team MCM skateboard club member Chad introduced him to the scene. “I bought my first Honda in 1998, a Honda Civic EX coupe that that I still own to this day. I’ll never part with it because it has so

The Speedster That Never Was

At first sight of Vic Oliver’s Studebaker you’re mesmerized. Its two-tone paint job calms your eyes, making it a pleasure to study every angle of the exquisitely proportioned car. Its chrome accents and white leather interior give it the chic and sophistication of a 1950s Lincoln, while its convertible two-seat design with dual fins protruding

Rim Doctor

It never ceases to amaze us here, at Apex Automotive Magazine, the range and talent of the automotive businesses that exist in Upstate NY. For example, when a 1972 Lamborghini Miura wheel made of magnesium has a hairline crack the wheel needs to be replaced, right?   Wrong!  Meet the experts at Rim Doctor! A

Kruising Knights Car Show

Last Friday my son texted me asking if we wanted to go to the Kruising Knights Car Show. I said, “Sure let’s do it.” So I washed my Camaro Friday after work, and put a much needed coat of wax on her. My car is not a show car, but it looks good and I

Excitement on the High Banks: Fulton Speedway

Fulton, NY is the home of a 3/8th mile high bank dirt oval. Fulton Speedway has been both an asphalt and clay race track in its long history. In 1961 the Speedway opened its doors to fans as a paved oval. Asphalt racing was on the weekly schedule until 1978. Then it was reopened as

Crystal Ball Cruise

It’s been twenty-nine years since Matt McGill and John (Jack) Murphy have coordinated the efforts for the senior class of Marcellus High School’s annual “Crystal Ball Cruise.”  This is the night that car enthusiasts get together to assist in keeping graduating seniors and their dates safe and sound.  According to the insurance industry, Senior Ball

Corvette Cars and Coffee

Apex Automotive Magazine co-sponsored Corvette Cars & Coffee in Syracuse thanks to the support of Jeff Lyman, owner of Jeffrey’s Auto Body. There was a huge turnout of 100+ cars, mostly Corvettes, but not all. The weather was perfect, a beautiful sunny Saturday morning with temperatures in the mid-sixties. Upon arriving, my wife and I

Central New York Cars & Coffee

Each Saturday morning dozens of car & truck enthusiasts gather at Wegmans Plaza on Rt. 57 in Liverpool to share coffee, Danish and conversation.  Now in its 6th year, “CNY Cars ‘n Coffee” attracts car buffs from Watertown to Binghamton and Herkimer to Waterloo. It was in 2011 when talk of doing a morning car

Adirondack Nationals 2017

A wonderful way to end the season. September 7th-10th are the dates for this year’s Adirondack Nationals Car Show in Lake George, NY. Albany Rods & Kustoms have hosted this show as the Adirondack Nationals since 1988. Their first Nationals Show was held in Glens Falls, NY. The next year the club moved this show

2017 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Review

Having extensively driven a 5th generation 2015 Camaro in the past, I knew that this 6th generation 2017 2SS Camaro had a tough act to follow. The test car was equipped with Chevrolet’s legendary LS 6.2L V8, the proven Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual transmission, a well-appointed interior with leather seats, heads up display, and all

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